Alumni Talkback and Exclusive Screening of “SING SING” starring Colman Domingo

A Powerful Story of Hope and Empowerment and A TALKBACK WITH THE ALUMNI TEAM BEHIND THE TRUE STORY

Sing Sing is a testament to the life-changing impact of the arts to break the cycle of incarceration. Join us for this story of hope and empowerment (starring Oscar nominated Colman Domingo) followed by a talkback with the people who made it happen, including Rehabilitation Through the Arts actor and alum, Dario Pena.

SING SING is the inspiring story of Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) alumni John “Divine G” Whitfield (Colman Domingo), who finds purpose by acting in RTA’s Sing Sing Correctional Facility theater group alongside RTA alum Clarence Maclin, who plays himself. This is a stirring portrayal of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art starring an unforgettable ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated RTA participants. Learn more.

Founded at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in 1996, Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) is a world leader in arts-in-prison programming. RTA teaches communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and other critical life skills through a unique mix of art forms. RTA’s ongoing success is dramatic: less than 3% of RTA members return to prison within three years of release, compared to the national recidivism rate of over 60%.

Panelists:

Leslie Karen Lichter ‘80, Interim Executive Director, RTA, provides interim executive leadership, empowering mission-driven organizations to navigate changing environments while continuing to find and develop opportunities.Prior to embarking on interim leadership, Ms. Lichter served as Chief Marketing Officer of UJA Federation of New York. Before moving to the nonprofit arena, she began her career working in program development and strategic marketing for Fortune 500 companies. Ms. Lichter earned a B.A. from Brown University and an M.B.A from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Dario Peña is a Fellow and a Student Success and Reentry Manager for Justice Through Code at Columbia University. The Columbia University Center for Justice is committed to ending mass incarceration and criminalization and advancing alternative approaches to justice and safety through education, research, and policy change. Peña was a member of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program in Sing Sing from 2001-2018 and was a cast member in the 2005 original production of Breaking The Mummy's Code (the play depicted in the Sing Sing film). RTA was the catalyst that changed the trajectory of Peña's life and he continues to bear its fruit as he pays it forward. Pena was also a founding member of an organization called& Voices From Within. He has a Bachelor’s in Behavioral Science from Mercy College and a Master’s in professional studies from the New York Theological Seminary.

Allison Chernow ‘80, Board Trustee, RTA has served for over a decade as a Board Trustee for Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA). Previously, she was Director of External Affairs at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. Prior to that, Allison was Director of Development at the Katonah (Westchester) Museum of Art. She received a BA in history from Brown University and an MA in Journalism from New York University.